• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
101 Cooking For Two
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • FAQs/Help
  • Shop
  • Best Recipes
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • FAQs/Help
  • Shop
  • Best Recipes
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • FAQs/Help
    • Shop
    • Best Recipes
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    🏠Home » Recipe Roundups

    Labor Day Recipe Roundup

    Aug 27, 2023 by Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan · Last modified: Aug 27, 2023 · 7 Comments

    It's time for the last big summer party with these easy Labor Day Recipes. Fire up the backyard grill or make some of the other summer favorites. So, let's get started.

    Labor Day graphic with dogs in bows
    Jump To:
    • The Classic BIG THREE of Grilling
    • Easier Grill Recipes
    • Sauce and Dry Rubs
    • Grilling Side Dishes
    • Oven Recipes
    • Pie, Pie, Pie, and Kinda Pie
    • FOOD SAFETY
    • My Bad—A Labor Day Story
    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    Although it is "labor" day, none of us want to work for our fun. I present for your consideration a few great, simple ways to cap off the "traditional" summer season.

    If you get to the end of this post, you will be rewarded with an enjoyable Labor Day story—do you have a Labor Day story?

    The Classic BIG THREE of Grilling

    The classic big three of grilling, all with easy-to-follow photo tutorials.

    Grilled Pork Butt on a Gas Grill for BBQ Smoked Pulled Pork
    Grilled Pork Butt makes wonderful BBQ smoked pulled pork cooked low and slow on a gas grill. Moist, tender, and with great smoky bark without a smoker.
    Pulled Pork on a Gas Grill from 101 Cooking for Two
    How to Cook a Brisket on a Gas Grill
    Cook smoked Grilled Brisket low-and-slow on your backyard gas grill—moist and tender meat with crusty bark and a smokey taste. Make classic BBQ brisket without a smoker.
    Cooked brisket on a gray board
    How to Grill Baby Back Ribs on a Gas Grill
    Grilled baby back ribs on a gas grill are easy with a few simple steps. Delicious, juicy, and fall-off-the-bone tender BBQ ribs will make you the grill master.
    grilled Baby Back Ribs on black cutting board

    Easier Grill Recipes

    OK, maybe you want less work but still world-class results. Here are the easier grill options.

    How to Grill Hamburgers on a Gas Grill
    Learn How to Grill Hamburgers on a Gas Grill—it is easy and quick once you learn a few simple steps. Juicy and flavorful grilled burgers will become a family favorite.
    burger on a bun
    How to Grill Chicken Breasts on a Gas Grill
    Learn how to grill chicken breast on a gas grill. Mastering grilled chicken is easy with a few simple steps. Get perfect tender and juicy chicken breasts every time.
    Grilled Chicken Breasts on a blue plate
    Grillied Chicken Drumsticks-Quick and Easy
    Perfectly Grilled Chicken Drumsticks are easy and quick with this never fail recipe. Fall off the bone tender with delicious flavor. They will be the hit of any meal.
    chicken drumsticks cooking on the grill
    Grilled Whole Chicken without Spatchcocking
    Grilled Whole Chicken is as easy as a simple prep without spatchcocking (butterfly or flattened) and grilling the full chicken with indirect heat on your backyard gas grill.
    Grilled whole chicken on a gray plate
    How to Grill Strip Steak on a Gas Grill
    Learn to grill your New York strip steaks to perfection on your grill. The best juice and tender strip steaks are easy with this never-fail recipe that will serve you well for many years.
    a strip steak with grill marks on a gray plate
    How to Grill Pork Chops on a Gas Grill
    Get perfect moist and tender Grilled Pork Chops on your gas grill in under 30 minutes. Use boneless or bone-in chops, an optional brine, and season to your taste.
    two grilled pork chops on an orange plate
    How to Grill a Ribeye Steak on the Grill
    Learn How to Grill a Ribeye Steak on the Grill that is tender and juicy with these easy step-by-step photo instructions. You can be the grill master, too.
    cut ribeye steak on a gray plate

    Sauce and Dry Rubs

    Memphis BBQ Sauce—Sweet and Tangy
    This easy Memphis BBQ Sauce recipe is the best homemade barbecue sauce A sweet and tangy sauce that's perfect with pulled pork, ribs, brisket, or even chicken.
    BBQ sauce on pork
    BBQ Dry Rub for Ribs, Pork, Beef, and More
    The best BBQ Dry Rub recipes will enhance the meats' taste and complement the sauce's flavors. This easy-to-adjust homemade rub recipe has classic BBQ flavors.
    Spice for 8311 BBQ Rub
    Memphis Dry Rub Recipe
    A classic sweet and spicy Memphis Dry Rub Recipe from Marlowes of Memphis. Bring the great taste of Memphis to your grilled ribs or other BBQ recipes.
    Applying Memphis dry rub to baby back ribs

    Grilling Side Dishes

    There is nothing like grilled vegetables or fruits. That extra grill flavor is just outstanding.

    Grilled Mixed Vegetables
    Delicious Grilled Mixed Vegetables cooked on the grill compliments any meal. You can easily add them to your grill while you cook dinner to complete your meal.
    Grilled Mixed Vegetables in a white bowl
    Grilled Pineapple Slices with Brown Sugar Cinnamon Glaze
    Glazed grilled pineapple slices are an easy delicious summer side dish. With a buttery caramelized brown sugar glaze, it also makes a great dessert when combined with ice cream—Ready in less than 15 minutes.
    close up of Grilled Pineacpple with grill marks on a blue plate
    Grilled Baby Potatoes
    Delicious Grilled Baby Potatoes with crispy golden skin are perfect for any grilled meal. Use small potatoes like red, new, fingerling, or trimmed larger thin-skin potatoes.
    grilled baby potatoes going into a blue bowl
    Grilled Asparagus on a Gas Grill
    Grilled Asparagus is something special that is the perfect side dish for almost any meal—sweet and tender with a bit charred on the edges, ready in about 15 minutes.
    asparagus on a white plate with Parmansan

    Oven Recipes

    Not everybody wants to grill, so let's switch focus to the oven.

    Oven Pulled Pork—Low and Slow Pork Butt
    Oven Pulled Pork from pork butt cooked low and slow is tender, moist, and delicious. This is the easiest recipe to get great pulled pork at home.
    pulled pork sandwich with BBQ sauce
    How to Bake Chicken Breasts in a Convection Oven
    The best way to bake chicken breasts is with your convection oven but you can cook in any oven. Your dinner will be ready in about 30 minutes and will be healthy, moist, and tender every time. Quick and easy with just a few easy secrets any home cook can master.
    baked chicken breast on a white plate
    Pan Seared Oven Roasted Strip Steak
    Quick and easy, this New York Strip Steak Recipe uses the tried and true sear and oven bake method to get the best steaks every time. Your steaks will be moist, tender, and flavorful.
    NY strip steak cut on an orange plate
    Pan Seared Oven Roasted Pork Tenderloin
    Learn how to cook the best pork tenderloin. A short pan sear in cast iron on the stovetop, then finish cooking in the oven to perfection in less than 30 minutes. You get the best of all worlds, excellent browning with tasty and juicy meat. Plus, it's super easy—sounds like the perfect recipe.
    pork tenderloin on blue platter

    Pie, Pie, Pie, and Kinda Pie

    Your holiday meal desires a great ending that everybody will be talking about.

    Fresh Strawberry Pie with Jello
    This quick and easy recipe for Fresh Strawberry Pie with Jello comes together in 25 minutes using fresh strawberries, a refrigerated crust, and a Jello filling.
    raw pie crust ready for the oven-3
    Blueberry Crumb Pie—Quick, Easy, and Delicious
    This simple Blueberry Crumb Pie is made with a refrigerated crust and fresh berries, topped with an easy crumble topping to finish your simplified masterpiece.
    slice of bluebeey pie on a white plate
    Easy Homemade Apple Crumb Pie—Quick to Make
    An everyday apple pie you will make over and over for the family. A refrigerated crust takes most of the work out of this homemade pie. Add a few fresh apples and some seasoning, and finish with an easy-to-make crumb topping. And you will be making this pie over and over.
    closeup of apple crumb pie
    Small Batch Apple Crisp
    This quick and easy Small Batch Apple Crisp has delicious tender apples and a sweet crumb topping. Perfect for a small household of two or make a double recipe for a family.
    apple crisp on a white plate

    FOOD SAFETY

    Finally, a few food safety reminders—so easy to forget but so important to remember.

    It is up to you to keep your friends and family safe. I see dangerous food handling on TV food shows and other blogs frequently. So, know the rules. PLEASE.

    As a start, please review my Summer Food Safety post. Let’s be safe out there. No, Uncle Joe cannot have his burger rare, even though you wouldn’t mind seeing him sick. It is your responsibility to keep them all safe.

    My Bad—A Labor Day Story

    When I first started my private practice almost 50 years ago, I started in mid-August, and the other pediatrician went on vacation (his first is over a year) a week later.

    I was left to see patients and make all business decisions. It was the Friday before Labor Day, and I was saying good night to the employees and told them I would see them on Monday. A huge scream went up.

    Them: "No, Tuesday"

    Me: "Monday"

    Them: (very loudly) "Tuesday, Monday is Labor Day."

    Me: "So"

    Them: "It's a holiday."

    Me: "No"

    Them: "YES"

    Me: "A real holiday? I thought it was like Ground Hog Day or Columbus Day."

    Them: "See you TUESDAY," they all shook their heads as they walked out snickering.

    Me: "Hmmm, OK."

    In my defense, I have just come out of years of medical training, working 80 to 100 hours per week. There were only two holidays, the Fourth of July and Christmas, and you got one off. All the rest of the days were equal, meaning they were nothing special, and you worked.

    My bad, I guess.

    I put that in to see if anybody got this far. And it is totally true. Even the wording is correct. Who else has a Labor Day story?

    Blue ribbon divider used for visual effect

    So relax and enjoy yourself. Grill a hot dog and have some ice cream. Enjoy your family and reflect on the last few years. Be kind to all and be filled with grace.

    Wifo, Molly, Lilly, and DrDan

    photo of Dogs at Work with molly and Lilly
    ↑Jump to Table of Contents

    Originally Published August 31, 2014. This post is reused yearly but is edited and updated annually. Some comments may be from previous years.

    More Recipe Roundups

    • College of food for tailgating
      Easy Tailgate Recipes
    • Graphic collage for Fouth of July. Has copyrighted material.
      Fourth of July Recipes
    • multiple steaks collage
      The Best Steak Recipes for Father's Day
    • Memoral Day College-Image licensed from Fotolia May 26, 2016. Copyright igoror - Fotolia. Modified per allow by licensed.
      Memorial Day Recipe Roundup

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a comment or ask a question. See comment policy for details. Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. Janet Gatlin

      September 07, 2020 at 9:22 am

      Happy Labor Day, Dr Dan! Love getting your emails!!
      PS. Glad you let your employees off that first Labor Day 😉

      Reply
    2. Gloria Bates

      September 07, 2020 at 8:56 am

      Have a wonderful and safe Labor Day! I always look forward to your emails, and especially love the doggie pictures :)

      Reply
    3. Fran

      September 06, 2020 at 3:40 pm

      You are such a delight to deal with.....to read your recipes and comments....to see the pix of your precious pets. Many of the recipes are great for me and my husband, but I just enjoy you whether or not the recipe is up our alley. Keep up the good work....you are a bright spot in this world. Here's wishing you and your loved ones --- pets definitely included -- a wonderful and tasty Labor Day! Take care....stay healthy.

      Reply
    4. Jean

      September 01, 2018 at 4:55 pm

      Your the greatest. Please take very good care of yourself you mean a lot to us.
      Happy Labor Day!
      Jean

      Reply
    5. Beverly Barndt

      September 01, 2018 at 11:15 am

      A Happy Labor Day to you also as well! and your little dogs too!

      Reply
    6. Janice

      September 04, 2014 at 5:31 am

      I appreciate all you go through to keep this blog for us!

      Reply
    7. Deborah Zuniga

      September 01, 2014 at 3:21 pm

      Enjoy your recipes and doggie updates! Please notify when new ones post. Thanks!

      Deborah Zuniga / Round Rock, Texas

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    DrDan image Hi, I’m DrDan, and welcome to 101 Cooking for Two, the home of great everyday recipes with easy-to-follow step-by-step photo instructions. About DrDan

    Join the club
    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    Chicken, Chicken, and More Chicken

    • pile of chicken legs on a white plate
      Baked Chicken Legs - Quick and Easy
    • Large plage of chicken thighs
      Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
    • cut baked chicken on white plate
      How to Bake Chicken Breasts in a Convection Oven
    • Grilled Chicken Breasts on a blue plate
      How to Grill Chicken Breasts on a Gas Grill
    • grilled chicken drumsticks on a grill
      Grilled Chicken Drumsticks—Quick and Easy
    • grilled chicken thigh with some char
      Grilled Chicken Thighs—Quick and Easy

    Steak, Steak, and More Steak

    • cut ribeye steak on a gray plate
      How to Grill a Ribeye Steak on the Grill
    • filtet mignon with potatoes on a white plate
      Pan Seared Oven Roasted Filet Mignon
    • Grilled filet mignon on a white plate
      How to Grill Filet Mignon
    • NY strip steak cut on an orange plate
      Pan Seared Oven Roasted Strip Steak
    • a strip steak with grill marks on a gray plate
      How to Grill Strip Steak on a Gas Grill
    • porterhouse steak with fries on blue plate
      Grilled T-bone Steak and Porterhouse Steak
    graphic of sites that I work with or have had recipes featured or referenced.
    SITES THAT I WORK WITH OR HAVE HAD RECIPES FEATURED OR REFERENCED.

    Footer

    ↑Jump to
    Table of Contents
    Join the club
    SUBSCRIBE TODAY

    About

    • About DrDan and the Blog
    • Comment Policy
    • Guest Posts, Partnering, and Business Questions

    Content

    • Food FAQ
    • Kitchen Reference Sheets
    • Recipes Featured in the Videos
    • Guide To Cooking for Two
    • Saved Recipes Collections

    dogs by the pond

    ↑ back to top ↑a

    Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Contact

    COPYRIGHT © 2010-2023 101 COOKING FOR TWO. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | BASED ON FOODIE PRO THEME

    • Email
    • Pinterest